By Samindra Kunti
October 2 – Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht is planning to finally deliver the Arena Corinthians on October 16, but the stadium will not be complete. With a number of sectors and areas around the stadium unfinished, Corinthians have expressed concern, but have said they do not intend to open legal proceedings against the builders.
Corinthians are arguably Brazil’s biggest club, together with Rio de Janeiro’s Flamengo, but live a life seemingly in endless turmoil. The club has struggled recently with delayed payments of salaries, rumblings in the boardroom and disappointing results in the Copa Libertadores.
The club’s new state-of-the-art stadium Arena Corinthians, which hosted six games during the 2014 World Cup, including the opener between Brazil and Croatia and the Argentina vs Holland semi-final, is presenting another major headache.
The bill for the stadium’s construction bloated from a provisional $356 million to $513 million. Corinthians aim to finance the stadium through increased gate revenue and selling the naming rights of the stadium.
But with Odebrecht, another problem surfaced. The conglomerate – founded in 1944 by Norberto Odebrecht and with businesses in the fields of engineering, construction, chemicals and petrochemicals – intends to deliver the stadium on October 16, but with $49.9 million of works uncompleted, according to the club.
This includes some of the internal and external architecture, including an internal part of the roof and the east and west parking zones. Electrical and hydraulic facilities also remain unfinished. The club also accuses Odebrecht of using inferior or non-compatible materials for parts of the stadium.
The club believe the unfinished outlook of the stadium is negatively affecting business operations, with difficulties in selling the stadium’s naming rights and hospitality seats, and in attracting sponsors.
Rather than sueing Odebrecht, the club plans to assess the many shortcomings in construction and a possible revision of the contract between both parties.
The Arena Corinthians’s original delivery date was December 2014, but this deadline has been repeatedly pushed back. The situation worsened as Odebrecht become part of the investigation Lava-Jato. Since June, Odebrecht’s chairmain, Marcelo Odebrecht has been imprisoned on accusations of corruption, money laundering and organised crime.
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